Sierra Leone - The Rebels: Revolutionary United Front (RUF)

The 3000-man Revolutionary United Front is predominantly Muslim and consists mainly of ragtag adolescents and villagers forced into fighting. It began its civil war against the government in 1991. The group has an office near the Liberian border and a press office in Abidjan (run by RUF leader Alfred Foday Sankoh's brother, Alimany Sankoh) on the Ivory Coast. RUF offers a US$2000 reward to anyone who can capture a mercenary alive.

RUF rebels were known to commit atrocities on a regular basis. The eating of victims is not uncommon. The most favored entrées are the liver and heart. Another nasty trick the guerrillas employ on captives is the slashing of ankle tendons and neck muscles.

The guerillas forced into service are under the constant threat of torture and execution, as are their family members. Beside the rebels getting support from Charles Taylor, there is also backing from the Ivory Coast and Guinea. Libya is a major supplier of arms and money to RUF. The rebels continued their battle against government troops despite a peace accord signed in November 1996. They renewed the civil war in earnest with a May 1997 attack on Kalangba. Red Cross workers reported the rebels sporting flashy new uniforms and automatic rifles. New duds and guns must've made it quite tempting to break a peace agreement.